Direct Family Support for Children (DFSC) Program Income Guidelines

The Direct Family Support for Children (DFSC) Program helps families caring for a child, or children, with a disability with costs for things like transportation, medication, and most importantly, respite - a short break, for parent(s), family or guardian(s) from the care and the supervision of their child, or children, with a disability.

The program considers a family's size and income to determine financial eligibility. The new income guidelines also feature a sliding scale for family contributions. This table illustrates the annual net income ranges per family size category and the correlating monthly family contribution.

Family Size

Income From

To

Monthly FamilyContribution

Two-Member Family

$31,440

$36,000

$100

$36,000

$40,000

$200

$40,000

$44,000

$300

$44,000

$48,000

$400

$48,000

$52,000

$500

$52,000

$56,000

$600

$56,000

$60,000

$700

$60,000

$62,880

$800

Three-Member Family

$36,672

$40,000

$100

$40,000

$45,000

$200

$45,000

$50,000

$300

$50,000

$55,000

$400

$55,000

$60,000

$500

$60,000

$65,000

$600

$65,000

$70,000

$700

$70,000

$73,344

$800

Four-Member Family

$41,904

$47,000

$100

$47,000

$52,500

$200

$52,500

$58,000

$300

$58,000

$63,500

$400

$63,500

$69,000

$500

$69,000

$74,500

$600

$74,500

$80,000

$700

$80,000

$83,808

$800

Five(+)- Member Family

$47,136

$54,000

$100

$54,000

$60,000

$200

$60,000

$66,000

$300

$66,000

$72,000

$400

$72,000

$78,000

$500

$78,000

$84,000

$600

$84,000

$90,000

$700

$90,000

$94,272

$800

As of July 1, 2012, the eligibility guidelines for the DFSC program were expanded to reflect today’s financial needs, allowing more Nova Scotia families to access the program. Under the new guidelines, the maximum amount a family of five can make is $94,272.00 (after taxes). Under the previous guidelines, the maximum amount was $72,000.00.